10 Star Players Manchester City Could Target This Summer

Manchester City may be in the midst of a title race with their fierce local rivals Manchester United, but the back-room staff never stop looking for ways to improve their team.

One of the many great things the UEFA Champions League gives us is a closer look at foreign talent. There's every chance some of the players who've dazzled this season on a Tuesday and Wednesday night will be playing for an English club next season.

Here are 10 star players Manchester City could target in the summer. All 10 would represent a marquee signing and all 10 would cost a lot—but this is City we're talking about.

Eden Hazard

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Potentially the hottest commodity for the summer of 2012, Eden Hazard is a standout performer for a decent Lille side.

Having won the the 2010-2011 Ligue 1 title, Lille might have thought they were in good shape. They've proceeded to lose Gervinho, Yohan Cabaye and Moussa Sow since then and look set to lose another prized possession sooner rather than later.

The young Belgian winger will fetch at least £30 million in the summer.

Eden Hazard has contributed nine goals and seven assists this season and is guaranteed to prove a quality acquisition for one big spending club soon.

Thiago Silva

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An unlikely transfer as Thiago Silva looks set to either; move to Barcelona or become the captain of AC Milan.

It has to be said, he would fit in perfectly at Barcelona as a ball-playing central defender but should he become available for a price, Roberto Mancini should look to try and persuade him his future lies in Manchester.

Silva is only a few years away from being an undisputed top five centre-back in the world and if he leaves this summer, he won't move clubs again for a long time.

Sven Bender

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Borussia Dortmund won the Bundesliga last year and sit atop the division again this year. Jurgen Klopp has built a solid team and while Mario Goetze takes the highlights, Sven Bender has been brilliant in central midfield.

He's not got the typical powerful defensive build but he can spot a tackle and control the play. His interceptions and reading of the game are akin to Alex Songs'.

A Final Thought

If you had asked me four years ago about potential summer transfer targets for Manchester City, not one of those players would get close to the calibre we're talking about here.

The progress the club has made, albeit through an oil-rich cash injection, is absolutely astounding. Fellow Manchester City featured columnist Daniel Morehead recently tweeted; "I'm dreading the day I wake up and it was all a dream."